Automobile door latch



Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

JOSEPH ARTHUR DROUIN, 0F WILLIMANTIC, CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCH.

Application led April 28, 1925. Serial No. 26,429.

The present invention relates to door latches, and particularly that type which isl used on automobile doors.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a latch structure of this nature which will eliminate the necessity of slamming the door, thus eliminating the noise incident thereto, and the injury to the parts of the door and latch.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a door latch of this nature which is exceedingly simple in its construction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong, durable', and efiicient and reliable in operation, not likely to easil become out of order, and otherwise well a apted to the purpose for which it is designed. j

With the above and numerous other objects in view as tion proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts aswill be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of thelatch mechanism embod ing the features of my invention showing tiie cover plate removed,

Figure 2 is a transverse section therethrough taken substantially on the line A-A of Figure l, but showing the latch bolt disposed inwardly, `and Figure 3 is a similar view showing the latch bolt disposed outwardly.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that 1 designates a casing having the usual removable cover plate 2 which may be held in place by screws (not shown) engaging in the bosses 3. The front plate 4 of the casing 1 has slidable therethrough the latch bolt 5 which has its .inner end bifurcated to form arms 6, the extremities ot' which are enlarged as at 7 so that the member 8 on the knob or operating spindle 9 may engage therewith. Springs 10 are disposed between the rear plate of the casing and the ends of the arms 6 and normally hold the latch bolts extended as shown in Figure 1. It will thus be seen that by rotating-the spindle 9 in either direction the bolt 6 may be moved inwardly of the casing in the usual manner. The intermediate or body portion 11 of the latch bolt 5 has its lower edge provided with a. longitudinally extending groove 12 on one side and terminating adjacent the free end of the bolt in a cross notch 13 thereby formwill appear as the`descrip latch will 'ing retracted.

ing a shoulder 14. A dog 15 is pivoted at 16 intermediate its ends soA as to swing in a plate transversely of the casing. The lower end of the dog 15 has an extension 17 held normally projected through the aperture 18 in the casing by a spring 19. The other end of the dog 15 is positioned in the groove 12 when the bolt 5 is extended. When this bolt, however, is retracted in the casing, the upper end of the dog will be free to swing so as to be in the path of the movement of the shoulder 14, thus holding the bolt 5 in a Ietracted position with the extension -17 projected through the aperture 18. It will thus be seen that when the spindle 9 is turned to retract the latch bolt 5, said latch bolt will be retained in a retracted position by the engagement of the dog l5 with the shoulder 14, and the extension '17 will be protracted through the aperture 18. When the door is closed the extension 17 is adapted to be-engaged by a lug 20 formed on a plate 21 fixed to the body of the automobile at the shoulder usually provided in the doorway. The engagement of the projection 17 with this lug 20 will cause the compression of the spring 19 and will also swing the dog l5 so as to disengage its upper en'd with the shoulder 14,'

and the latch bolt 5 will move to its extended position by the springs 10.

From the abovel detailed description it will be seen that this mechanism eliminates the necessity of slamming the door as the be in a retracted position as the door is closed and will be released so as to engage the usual keeper provided in the door way.

Attention is now locking the latch bolt against being retract directed to means forl ed or unlocked. This consists of any suitv able spring operated lock 422. An extension 23 is provided on the lock- 22 to swing when the key is turned. This extension 23 engages' a dog 24 to swing one end thereof in engagement with a. stop projection 25 on the bolt 5, and thereby' prevent the bolt from be- A leaf spring 26 is fixed on pins 27 in the casing and has an-intermediately disposed curved porti'on 29 for engagement'by a projection 30 on the dog 24 for thus holding this dog in either a locked position or unlocked position against accidental movement.

It is thought that the construction, operaf tion, and advantages of this invention should now be clearly understood without a more detailed description thereof. It is desired however, to point out that numerous changes in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A device of the class described, including, in combination, a casing formed from a plate having walls extending therefrom, an opening in one of the walls, a latchbolt slidable in the casing and through the opening, means in the casing for sliding the latehbolt, an intermediate portion of said latchbolt being provided with a longitudinally extending groove terminating in a shoulder on the lower end thereof, a dog, pivot means disposed longitudinally of the bolt for pivotallymounting the dog on the plate of the casing, so that one end of thedog is disposed in the groove for transverse movement thereof, and engageable with the shoulder when the bolt is retracted to prevent said transverse movement, a lug on the other end of the dog pro- 

